chromatic

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /kɹəˈmætɪk/ UK /krəˈmætɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #88772

Meanings

1

adj
relating to color or to differences in color

The artist used a rich chromatic range of reds, greens, and golds.
2

adj
using notes outside the prevailing diatonic scale, especially successive semitones

The melody rises through a tense chromatic passage before resolving.
3

adj
relating to the separation or focusing of different wavelengths of light

The lens coating reduces chromatic distortion around bright objects.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to color or to... colorfulcolor-related

3 adj · relating to the separation... spectral

Opposites

achromaticdiatonic

Word family

Derived forms chromaticallychromaticismchromaticityachromatic

Related forms chromachromosome

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

chromatic scale
a musical scale that moves through every semitone in an octave

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Via French chromatique and Latin chromaticus from Ancient Greek khromatikos ("relating to color; chromatic in music"), from khroma ("color"). The musical sense already existed in Greek theory and refers to intervals understood through a color metaphor.

Topics

Describing Qualities Music Theory Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# chromatic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /kɹəˈmætɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /krəˈmætɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 88772

## Meanings
1. relating to color or to differences in color
2. using notes outside the prevailing diatonic scale, especially successive semitones
3. relating to the separation or focusing of different wavelengths of light

## Examples
- The artist used a rich chromatic range of reds, greens, and golds.
- The melody rises through a tense chromatic passage before resolving.
- The lens coating reduces chromatic distortion around bright objects.

## Synonyms
- colorful
- spectral

## Antonyms
- achromatic
- diatonic

## Derived Forms
- chromatically
- chromaticism
- chromaticity
- achromatic

## Related Forms
- chroma
- chromosome

## Etymology
Via French chromatique and Latin chromaticus from Ancient Greek khromatikos ("relating to color; chromatic in music"), from khroma ("color"). The musical sense already existed in Greek theory and refers to intervals understood through a color metaphor.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Music Theory
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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